Vermont

2024's Towns In Vermont That Come Alive In The Fall

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2 years ago

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October 5, 2024

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Press Room

2024's Towns In Vermont That Come Alive In The Fall

As the home of 55 state parks, over 100 covered bridges, and some of the most vivid fall foliage in the country, it is easy to see why the New England state of Vermont is one of the most sought-after places to visit in autumn. And despite the fact that we are already several weeks deep into the season, there is still plenty of time to savor the sights, with many Vermont towns reserving their brightest leaves for the second and third weeks of October.

As these towns shed their usual greenery in place of crimson and gold, a warm glow is cast across Vermont’s hilltops, river shores, and mountainsides. Add in pumpkin patches, hayrides, and festive events celebrating the season, and you have the perfect recipe for experiencing a New England fall at its finest in 2024.

Stowe

The Stowe Community Church, Stowe, Vermont.

Named one of 2024’s “Top 10 Best Places to See Fall Colors in the United States” by USA Today, Stowe embodies everything we know and love about a classic New England fall. Overlooked by Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak), this northern Vermont town of just over 5,000 locals welcomes a massive amount of the 13 million who visit Vermont each year. With summer and winter being the busiest seasons, fall in Stowe offers the perfect blend of tranquility and stunning views. Seasonal colors arrive as early as the beginning of September and, in some areas, last well into October, depending on the elevation.

If you are looking for Stowe’s vibrant hues earlier in the season, your best bet is to embark on higher hikes like the Stowe Pinnacle Trail, which grants breathtaking panoramic views of the valley and surrounding mountains. For a more easygoing foliage hike, Stowe’s 75-acre Kirchner Woods features flatter paths with stunning yellow and red sugar maples.

But for the ultimate leisurely leaf-peeping experience, you may just want to take to the sky. The town has several attractions that allow a bird’s-eye view of the foliage, including the Stowe Mountain Resort’s Gondola SkyRide, a forest zipline with ArborTrek Canopy Adventures, or Air Stowe Helicopter Tours. Just make sure to be back on land by October 11 to celebrate the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, which will feature over 150 artists and artisans, live entertainment, and tons of delicious festival foods.

Burke

Although the picturesque mountain town of Burke has already seen its famed Fall Festival pass in late September, there is still plenty of autumnal bliss to savor in fall. As part of Vemront’s Northeast Kingdom, the town’s surrounding forests and alpine atmosphere means foliage begins to transform around mid-September, reaching peak vibrancy in early to mid-October. This period offers the perfect opportunity to witness the brilliant gold, red, and orange leaves in Darling State Park, which features stunning vistas on paths like the 1.3-mile Burke Mountain Overlook trail.

Beyond exploring the seasonal bliss by foot, Burke is also famous for its Kingdom Trail network, which boasts over 100 miles of biking paths. Whether you choose to rent a bike from Burke’s Village Sport Shop or bring your own, cycling these scenic forest trails is a fantastic way to soak in the beauty of the season. Alternatively, for a more unique experience, consider Burke’s DND Stables Guided Trail Rides, which offer leisurely horseback adventures suitable for riders of all skill levels, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the stunning autumn landscape.

Waitsfield

Over in the heart of the Mad River Valley, Waitsfield is a cozy town promising dramatic sights and spirited experiences in the fall. The valley, centrally located in Vermont, offers a striking contrast of Green Mountain summits and Mad River lowlands, combined with a tapestry of fiery autumn hues and crisp alpine airs. During your time in Waitsfield, you can expect peak-foliage in early to mid-October, but like Stowe, it will also depend on elevation.

For an immersive experience, adventurous travelers may want to take a Guided Fall Foliage Tours with downtown Waitsfield’s Clearwater Sports. While many people associate paddling with summer, the tree-dotted riverbanks reflect vibrant fall colors into the water, creating a truly special effect. With wildlife actively packing on the pounds for hibernation, you are also more likely to spot animals like the American black bear.

Another fantastic way to enjoy the fall scenery is through the Foliage Lift Rides at Mad River Glen. This ski area hosts its Foliage Weekend event on October, providing round trips to the summit for breathtaking views of the valley’s foliage. If you would like to linger a bit longer to take in the sights and snap some photos, you can step off the lift for a leisurely hike down the scenic 2.5-mile Stark Mountain Trail. On October 12, the Stark Mountain Foundation will also organize a Family-Friendly Nature Hike, guiding families from this trail to Waitsfield’s Kent Thomas Nature Center.

Manchester

Traveling to southern Vermont, Manchester is the perfect town for those craving spectacular views without the hike. Sandwiched between the Green and Taconic Mountains, picturesque backdrops are a constant in Manchester, with Mount Equinox towering above the skyline at 3,850 feet. With the addition of the Battenkill River encircling the town, postcard views are as natural as breathing.

For a jaw-dropping “Drive to the Sky,” visitors can take historic Route 7A (located between Manchester and Arlington) for a trip up the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive. As the longest privately owned paved toll road in the United States, the road’s 3,248-foot, 5.2-mile ascent to the top of Mount Equinox is stunning year-round. But mid-September through October is when the trees replace their usual green with a stunning tapestry of yellows, oranges, and reds, making this one of the most sought-after times to take the scenic drive.

Manchester is also an excellent destination for those with young kids, since the town hosts a great range of family-friendly activities. Fall Foliage Wagon Rides at Hildene Farm are a great follow-up to tours of the Lincoln Family Home. Alternatively, the Equinox Valley Nursery Pumpkin Patch also hosts a mountain-view wagon ride, along with a corn maze and an annual pumpkin carving festival (date to be determined).

Woodstock

While certain Vermont towns are at their most crowded in the summertime, Woodstock’s busy season is from September to October, when the leaves are at their brightest. The best entry to this quintessential New England town is via the Crossroad of the Vermont Scenic Byway, whose sparkling landscapes will set the mood for your stay. Woodstock is also bordered by the beautiful Ottauquechee River, making the town’s scenes that much prettier.

The 3-mile Ottauquechee River Trail is one of the best ways to take in the town’s autumnal sights, or you can opt for a more vertical path up Mount Tom for a bird’s-eye view of the village. Quechee State Park is also a short drive from Woodstock, known for its Quechee Gorge Trail. As for those looking for a more easygoing foliage hike, Woodstock has several rural areas worth exploring, like Sugarbush Farm and Bourdon Maple Farm. In the autumn months, Bourdon offers free sugar house tours, maple samples, and self-guided hikes through the farm’s vibrant Maple Trail.

East Corinth

For Halloween fanatics looking for a laid-back day trip this October, East Corinth boasts a ton of whimsy without the Woodstock crowds. Despite often being overlooked, the town’s main claim to fame is its reputation as a Beetlejuice Filming Location since the 1988 film’s outdoor scenes were shot throughout East Corinth, including the iconic bridge scene. To this day, the town exudes a gothic charm reminiscent of the film, showcased in 19th-century buildings like the East Corinth Congregational Church, which was built in 1840.

Leaf-peepers will also find themselves mesmerized by the stunning hillsides in this rural town. This year’s Corinth Fall Festival is set to line up with the region’s peak foliage season when the hills will come to life with dazzling shades of red and gold. The festival promises tractor rides, face painting, food, and artisan vendors.

Burlington

Despite being Vermont’s largest town, Burlington has that cozy small-town feel New England is famous for. As local oaks and maples take on their fall colors (generally reaching their crescendo in the first couple weeks of October), the town’s parks and green spaces feel warmer and cozier than ever. Oakledge Park is a great choice for views of Lake Champlain, or you can head to the heart of Burlington to explore The Intervale Center. This 360-acre nonprofit boasts everything from organic farms to recreational paths like the Intervale Trail, which winds through farmland and wooded paths along the Winooski River.

As for seasonal festivities, for those looking to get into the Halloween spirit, this historic Vermont town is also famous for its award-winning haunted town tour. The Queen City Ghostwalk, “Vermont’s Original Ghost Tour,” was awarded the 2024 “Best Guided Outdoor Tour” by Seven Daysies and has been voted one of New England’s best-haunted walks by magazines like Yankee and AAA. Alternatively, for those craving treats instead of tricks, Burlington’s Choctober Fest is a fun event taking place every Saturday in October, promising free chocolate tastings with seasonal maple, cider, and pumpkin flavors.

Grafton

With “Peak New England Vibes” and less than 700 locals, the sleepy and underrated village of Grafton is an ideal getaway spot for those craving a quieter experience this fall. Like other southern Vermont towns, Grafton sees its brightest foliage toward the beginning of October, so this is the best time to visit. And thanks to the town’s alpine atmosphere, crisp mountain air will accompany your views every step of the way.

For a scenic autumn drive (and a charming photo), Grafton’s Kidder Covered Bridge is an adorable little landmark that takes you across the South Branch Saxtons River. But to explore Grafton’s scene on foot, you will want to head to the Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center. Spread over 2,000 acres of land, the area boasts everything from rolling hills to vibrant woodlands where visitors can hike, mountain bike, leaf-peep, and even book a stay at the adjacent Grafton Inn hotel.

As a follow-up, the Nature Museum at Grafton is a great way to learn more about the area’s stunning outdoors and wildlife. As for those who would prefer to experience more of Grafton’s rural atmosphere, the Plummer’s Sugar House is a great next stop. Their free farm tours are a delight in the fall, plus they sell countless maple syrup goodies for those with a sweet tooth.

Final Thoughts

Summertime may be Vermont’s busiest tourist period (welcoming 5 million people every season), but autumn is when the Green Mountain State truly lives up to its New England image. Whether visiting towns like Woodstock (which has become world-famous for its classic autumn scenes) or sleepier rural towns like Grafton for a quiet getaway in the mountains, the kaleidoscope landscapes, seasonal flavors, and warm festivities will reveal why so many choose to spend their weekends, road trips, and getaways in Vermont this time of year.

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Vermont

Regulators think few contractors are registered with the state — and they want to reel them in – VTDigger

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9 hours ago

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April 16, 2026

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Press Room

Regulators think few contractors are registered with the state — and they want to reel them in – VTDigger

Adam Clark shows where a construction contractor allegedly did sub-standard work on his Essex Junction home in Dec. 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

“We can’t help you.”

That’s what regulators often have to say when people complain about getting shoddy construction in an expensive home improvement project, said Lauren Hibbert, deputy secretary of state, whose office oversees professional regulation in Vermont.

“And that’s very unsatisfying to homeowners,” Hibbert told the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Thursday. The only real alternative is to take their contractor to court, she said.

That limitation stems from the fact that contractors in the state aren’t required to be licensed, Hibbert said. Instead, contractors are merely required to be registered if they’re entering into a contract worth $10,000 or more with a homeowner.

To get registered with the state, contractors pay a fee, provide proof of insurance and have to disclose any criminal records. A licensure requirement could set a higher bar, requiring contractors to have a certain level of education and training.

And if contractors were licensed, it could give the state more control over enforcing a professional standard, potentially offering more remedies for people who feel they’ve been wronged, Hibbert said.

A bill the committee is considering, H.718, doesn’t go so far as to require contractors to be licensed. Instead, it creates a task force to improve the state’s contractor registry.

The state has a total of 1,400 registered residential contractors, including individuals and businesses, Hibbert said. But she thinks that number is very low and that despite the requirement, many contractors are not registered.

The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation generates its money from registration and licensure fees, according to Jennifer Colin, director of the office. But the contractor registration hasn’t generated enough revenue, meaning the office doesn’t have the money to do more outreach and get more contractors to register, Colin said.

The task force proposed by the bill would, among other measures, seek to address those issues with the registry, Colin explained.

The bill was hotly debated on the House floor before lawmakers there passed it last month. Some representatives said they were concerned the registry was difficult for contractors to navigate and created barriers into the profession.

In 2022, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a bill that sought to create a registry for all contractors in the state, saying he didn’t think the registry was needed. Scott cited concerns that the bill would harm small-scale operations. Lawmakers compromised with the governor following his veto and amended the bill to set the current $10,000 contract threshold for registry.

On Thursday, the committee’s chair, Sen. Anne Watson, D/P-Washington, said the committee would continue hearing expert input on this year’s bill.

In the know

The House Ways and Means Committee heard sharply divided testimony Thursday morning on a bill that would increase taxes on some wealthier Vermonters’ investment income and create a new top tax bracket for the highest 1% of earners.

Stephanie Yu, who leads the policy research nonprofit Public Assets Institute, expressed strong support for the bill. She told lawmakers that income inequality has increased steadily in Vermont over the last century, leaving many without the ability to meet basic needs. The state’s top tax rate has decreased substantially in the last 60 years, she added, from a height of roughly 20% in the late 1960s to the current rate of 8.75%.

“Vermont’s tax system, while it’s better than many other states, is still regressive at the top,” Yu said.

Amy Spear, president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, told lawmakers the bill would likely have “hidden economic consequences.” A new tax on capital gains, she said, would make selling a company in preparation for retirement and passing ownership along more costly for the state’s business owners. And the proposed top-level income tax hike “reaches deeply into active business income,” Spear said, since smaller businesses’ earnings often count as taxable income for owners.

Andrew Wilford, director of state tax policy at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, raised broader concerns, saying the change would make Vermont less competitive with neighboring states and could drive tax-related outmigration.

“Targeting investment with high tax rates is a problem for Vermont’s tax base in the future,” he said.

“It’s difficult for the committee when we hear one thing and then hear completely opposite testimony,” said Rep. Carolyn Branagan, R-Georgia. “We have to dig in and look what the facts are.”

— Theo Wells-Spackman

On the move — slowly

Debate over H.955, the House’s sweeping education reform bill, continued through the afternoon Thursday as lawmakers debated a number of amendments to the legislation.

Two amendments would have set additional parameters around a school district’s ability to close a school and would have required voter approval to close a school. Those amendments failed.

Another amendment that failed would have suspended the state’s excess spending threshold, which financially penalizes districts for spending above certain amounts, for fiscal years 2028 and 2029.

Yet another, which lawmakers continued to debate at around 5 p.m. Thursday, would have required all approved independent schools to follow the same education quality standards set for the state’s public schools. That amendment failed via a roll call.

It was unclear when the bill would come to a full vote. Lawmakers will need to approve the bill twice before advancing it to the Senate. The House had not yet voted on the bill before this newsletter’s deadline.

Check back tomorrow for the full story.

— Corey McDonald

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Vermont

No cell service? This retro solution is helping rural areas of Vermont

Published

21 hours ago

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April 16, 2026

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Press Room

No cell service? This retro solution is helping rural areas of Vermont

WORCESTER, Vt. (InvestigateTV) – In rural Vermont, where cell service can be nonexistent, residents are finding an unexpected solution to communication challenges: old-school pay phones.

Patrick Schlott, an electrical engineer and native of Vermont, has begun installing modified vintage pay phones in public spaces like libraries and town halls. These phones, part of his “Ran-tel” cooperative—short for the Randolph public telephone operating company—allow users to make free calls anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, with no coins or cards required.

“It’s just for anyone who needs to make a phone call,” Schlott said.

The idea was inspired by similar projects in cities like Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon.

Schlott, who has a passion for old technology, realized he could give back to his community by repurposing the equipment.

The phones are wired to run on free public Wi-Fi, which is why they are free to use.

For residents like Roger Strobridge in Worcester, the phones are a critical safety measure in an area where cell service is unreliable, particularly during harsh winters.

“I personally look at this pay phone that’s being installed as our answer to cell service and cell towers,” Strobridge said.

While the project started as a hobby, Schlott is already expanding, with a goal to have at least one Ran-tel phone in each of Vermont’s 14 counties.

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Grand Isle County’s top prosecutor cited for DUI – VTDigger

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1 day ago

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April 15, 2026

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Press Room

Grand Isle County’s top prosecutor cited for DUI – VTDigger

Doug DiSabito, the Grand Isle state’s attorney, speaking to reporters. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger

Updated at 5:34 p.m.

Grand Isle County’s top prosecutor Douglas DiSabito was cited Tuesday for drunken driving after he was allegedly intoxicated in a St. Albans courthouse, according to the St. Albans Police Department.

Police received a call around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday alerting officers to respond to Franklin County Superior Court in St. Albans “for a report of a person in the building who may be under the influence of alcohol,” according to a department press release.

Officers then made contact with Grand Isle County State’s Attorney DiSabito and after “subsequent investigation” arrested him for driving under the influence of alcohol, the release said.

DiSabito is set to appear in court on May 4, according to the release.

The 57-year-old from Alburgh was first elected to lead the prosecutor’s office in 2014 and has won re-election without facing challengers in every election since then, according to the Vermont Secretary of State’s website. DiSabito has said he is running again for re-election in November. Earlier this week he said he would seek both Democratic and Republican nominations, according to WCAX.

DiSabito recently said he wanted the state to pass stricter bail laws, and he thinks the judiciary isn’t doing enough to combat what he sees as a lack of respect for judicial proceedings, according to the Bennington Banner.

“It’s unfortunate for Grand Isle and for law enforcement,” said Gov. Phil Scott at his weekly press conference Wednesday.

DiSabito did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Tim Lueders-Dumont, executive director of the Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs, said his department is standing ready to support the county, though he was not yet sure if anyone would take over some of DiSabito’s cases.

“He’s still state’s attorney, he still has his law license,” Lueders-Dumont said.

Lueders-Dumont said he didn’t know which prosecutor would bring the drunken driving case against DiSabito. He declined to comment on the arrest, saying the department doesn’t comment on ongoing criminal matters.

DiSabito’s arrest comes two years after a state prosecutor in Addison County was similarly arrested for drunken driving.